Laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements



Aug. 28, 1956 NELLY 2,760,224

MEN

BY @Q J17 YIGK/VEY United States Patent LATERALLY RESILIENTLY DISPLACEABLE STOP FOR RELATIVELY MOVABLE ELEMENTS Walter L. Hennelly, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 6, 1954, Serial No. 460,525

8 Claims. (Cl. 16-86) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a stop of the type adapted to stop the relative movements of two relatively movable elements, such as a door and a wall effectively pivotally mounting the door with respect thereto, or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to such a stop which is efiective for stopping relative motion of the relatively movable elements by means of receiving impact of one of said relatively movable elements in virtually axial relationship with respect to the stop, and yet to allow ready lateral displacement of the stop with respect to its mounting, when desired to facilitate access into spatial regions closely adjacent to the stop, which would normally not be convenientlyaccessible if the stop were not laterally displaceable.

I am aware of the fact that a great many prior art door stops, and the like, have been invented and developed heretofore. However, all of such prior art devices, known to me, have disadvantages of one type or another.

For example, most prior art door stops are both axially rigid and laterally rigid thus making it extremely difficult to have access to the region adjacent the stop in its normal 5 position projecting outwardly from the base board of a wall adjacent a hinged door, or the like. This prior art arrangement makes it difiicult to clean the floor adjacent the door stop because a broom, vacuum cleaner, or the like, will tend to bump into the projecting door stop and thus, hamper the cleaning operation. Also, the projecting door stop tends to hamper moving operations involving moving furniture and bulky objects around a room and, particularly, in the regions adjacent the door (and the door stop).

In an attempt to solve the above-mentioned prior art problem, several types of laterally displaceable door stops have been invented and developed heretofore. However, most of these have disadvantages of one type or another.

For example, most of these prior art resiliently displaceable door stops are of relatively complex, costly construction, are not adapted for easy assembly or disassembly, and are not adapted for ready adjustment as to size and type.

Generally speaking, the improved stop of the present invention includes a base cooperable to be fixed to one of a pair of relatively movable elements. The base is provided with a projecting stud having exterior peripheral groove means (in at least one form of the invention, exterior thread means). Also included is a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud and the groove means (in at least one form, the thread means) thereon to receive said first end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud with a portion of said first end of said spring received in said groove means (in at least one form, thread means) and with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact with the other of said relatively movable elements. a

A generic form of the present invention may also in- .clude an impact head of yieldable material (such as rub- IQC ber, or the like) provided with a recess extending thereinto. The spring means may also be provided with an outer second end and impact head engaging means adapted to be engaged within said recess to eifectively mount said impact head with respect to said outer end of said spring. One preferred form of this arrangement may comprise a connecting element provided with a projecting stud (usually, though not necessarily, grooved or threaded) and provided with an impact head engaging extension (usually, though not necessarily, an enlarged flange, in which case, said recessed impact head may be provided with an interior peripheral shoulder)the outer second end of the spring being adapted to engage the stud carried by the con necting element, and said recessed impact head being efiectively cooperable with the impact head engaging extension (or flange) for resilient encompassing engagement thereover.

From the above description of the basic, and several preferred generic forms of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that virtually all of the hereinbefore-mentioned prior art disadvantages are virtually entirely eliminated and overcome in and through the use of the present invention.

For example, it is obvious that the stop of the present invention will be fully effective with respect to axially received impact, while at the same time allowing easy resilient lateral displacement of the outer end of the stop to facilitate access into adjacent regions.

Furthermore, it is obvious that the present invention is of exceedingly simple, cheap construction capable of easy assembly and disassembly (and, therefore, of size and type adjustment).

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements which is of exceedingly simple, cheap, easy-to-assemble, easy-to-disassemble construction, and adjustable in size and type.

Other and allied objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a careful perusal, examination and study of the accompanying illustrations, the present specification and the appended claims.

To facilitate understanding, reference will be made to the hereinbelow-described drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the impact head illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the impact head engaging means or connecting element shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, shown in completely assembled relationship;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows VV in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows VIVI in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a slightly modified form of base for fastening the device to a wall, as seen in an aspect similar to Fig. 4.

Generally speaking, the present invention includes a base cooperable to be fixed to one of several relatively movable elements (such as a portion of the wall adjacent a hinged door, for example). The base is provided with a projecting stud having exterior peripheral groove means (in certain forms of the invention, comprising exterior thread means).

In the specific example illustrated, the base is indicated generally at 1 and includes threaded fastening means 2 adapted to be threadedly engaged within a portion of a wall 3 (as best shown in Fig. 4) whereby to outwardly project the stud 4, which, in this case, bears groove means comprising exterior threads 5.

Also, generally speaking, the present invention includes a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud and the-groove means thereon whereby said stud will receive said first end-of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud with a portion of said first end of said spring received in said groove means and-.with. the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base to be positioned to receive axialimpact of the other of said relatively movable elements.

In the specific example illustrated, said longitudinal helically coiled spring is indicated generally at 6,. and the first end thereof is indicated at 7. In. the form illustrated, the first end 7 is adapted to be threadedly screwed and engaged with respect to the threads S'carried by the stud 4 'to effectively mount the spring, 6 inan outwardly projecting position. This is' best shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6.

In one preferred general form of the present invention, an impact head of yieldable material may be provided with a recess extending thereinto, and said spring may be provided with an outer second 'endiand impact head engaging means adapted'to be engaged'within said' recess to effectively mount said impact head'with" respect to said outer end of said spring;

In the specific form illustrated, theimpact head engaging means, just mentioned, comprises a connecting element, indicated generally at 8, and provided'with an impact head engaging extension 9, which, in the example illustrated, carries a flange 10; Said connecting element 8 is provided with a projecting stud 11, which, in the specific example illustrated, is provided with exterior grooves or threads 12. The second "outer end 13 of the helical spring 6 is adapted'to be threadedly -screwedand engaged with respect to the threads 12 carried by the stud 11 to effectively mount the connecting element Sat the outer end of the spring 6. In the specific example illustrated, the impact head is indicated generally at 14- and includes a recess 15 and an interior peripheral shoulder 16 immediately adjacent entry port 17 into the recess 15. In the example illustrated, the impact head engaging extension 9 (carrying the'liange ltllis adapted to be resiliently engaged within the recess lszwith the interior peripheral shoulder 16. firmly engaging and retaining the flange 10. This is best shown in .Figs. 4 and S.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows:

It is obvious that when the device is mounted, as shown in Fig. 4, it is well'adapted to receive the impact of a moving door, such as a door 18, indicated'in fragmentary form, or the like, on the impact head 14 if the force component involved is virtually axial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring 6. However, it is also obvious that the outer end'13of the spring (and the impact head 14) can be'laterally deflectedwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring 6, whenever desired.

It is also obvious that the. impact head can be readily disengaged, when desired, to allow replacement by a different size or a different type of impact head. It is also obvious that the spring 6 can be rapidly and easily'disengaged from the stud 4, when desired, to allow replacement by a different size and/or type. of spring-this is also true in regard disengagement of the spring 6. with respect to the stud 11 for replacement purposes in regard any of the cooperating partsof the device.

Fig. 7 illustrates a slightly modified form of the base of the present invention and the means for fastening. same with respect to one of said relatively movable elements (usually, a wall, or the like). Parts similar to th'ose described hereinbefore and illustrated in Figs. v1, 4 and 6; will be indicated by these same reference numerals, primed however. In this modificationof the presentinvention, the base is adapted-to carry flexible suction cup means, indicated generally at 19 cooperable to be .removably afiixed to the wall 3'. Said base 1' does not have the circumferential flange shown in the first form of the present invention, and the screw means 2 does not comprise a tapered wood screw but rather a blunt-ended screw adapted to threadedly engage and screw into an interiorly threaded insert 20 carried in an extension 21 fastened to the suction cup portion 22 of the suction cup means 19.

The operation of this modification of the invention is similar to that hereinbefore-described inv connection with the first form of the present invention, except that the mounting of the base 1' with respect to the wall 3 is accomplished by forcibly engaging the suction cup 19 against the Wall 3', Wherebyto effectively mount the entire device in outwardly projecting relationship with respect to the wall 3. It should be noted that this form of the invention can be very rapidly and easily removed by merely deflecting the edge of the suction cup portion 22 away from the wall 3 sufliciently to allowair toenter the space therebetween, thus facilitating the removal and/or relocation of the entire device, when desired.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art after a carefulv study hereof. All such properly within the basic spirit and. scope of the present invention, are intended to. bev included and comprehended herein as fully as-if specifically described, illustrated and claimedherein.

For example, the means for attaching the base means to one'of the relatively movable elements (usually a portion of a wall) may be modified substantially.

Also, it should be noted that the stud and groove means for engaging the first end of the spring (and also for engaging the second end of the spring) may be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

Various other attaching arrangements for efiectively connecting either end of the spring and either of the studs may also be employed within the basic spirit and scope of the present invention.

The impact head engaging meansmay be modified substantially within the basic spirit and teachings of the present invention. Incidentially, it should be noted that the present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application filed March 22, 1954, Serial No. 417,869, now Patent No. 2,700,788, dated February 1, 1955, and this application more specifically describes, illustrates and claims the impact-head engagingmeans generically described and claimed in said copending patent application.

The impact head itself may assume a variety of different forms.

The. exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component partsof the present invention arenot critical, and can be modified substantiallywithin; the spirit of thepresentinvention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and are intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration forthe doctrine of equivalents.

I-claim: I a

-1. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to'be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud; a. longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud of the, base to receive, said stud therein with said first end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud:with the. major'portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the. base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with a projecting stud and provided With'an impact engaging extension; said .sprinigbeingprovided with an outer second end cooperable with the stud of the connecting element to receive said stud therein with said second end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud; and an impact head of yieldable'material provided with a recess extending thereinto and effectively cooperable with said impact head engaging extension for resilient encompassing engagement thereover.

2. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud having exterior peripheral groove means; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud and the groove means thereon to receivesaid stud therein with said first end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud with a portion of said first end of said spring received in said groove means and with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with an impact head engaging extension and provided with a projecting stud having exterior peripheral groove means; said spring being provided with an outer second end cooperable with the stud and groove means of the connecting element to receive said stud therein with said second end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud and with a portion of said second end of said spring received in said groove means; and an impact head of yieldable material provided With a recess extending thereinto and efiectively cooperable with said impact head engaging extension for resilient encompassing engagement thereover.

3. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud having exterior thread means; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud and the thread means thereon to threadedly receive and engage said stud therein with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with an impact head engaging extension and provided with a projecting stud having exterior thread means; said spring being provided with an outer second end cooperable with the stud and the thread means of the connecting element to threadedly receive and engage said stud therein; and an impact head of yieldable material provided with a recess extending thereinto and effectively cooperable with said impact head engaging extension for resilient encompassing engagement thereover.

4. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first helically coiled end cooperable with the stud of the base to receive said stud therein with said first helically coiled end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud along the length thereof and with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with a projecting stud and provided with a flange; said spring being provided with an outer second helically coiled end cooperable with the stud of the connecting element to receive said stud therein with said second helically coiled end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud along the length thereof; and an impact head of yieldable material provided with a recess extending thereinto having an interior peripheral shoulder, said recessed impact head being effectively cooperable with said flange for resilient encompassing engagementthereover" with said shoulder firmly engaging and retaining said flange.

5. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud having exterior'peripheral groove means; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first helically coiled end cooperable with the stud and the groove means thereon to receive said stud therein with said first end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship With respect to said stud and along the length thereof with a portion of said first helically coiled end of said spring received in said groove means and withthe major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements, a connecting element provided With a flange and provided with a projecting stud having exterior peripheral groove means; said spring being provided with an outer second helically coiled end cooperable with the stud and groove means of the connecting element to receive said stud therein with said second helically coiled end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud along the length thereof and with a portion of said second helically coiled end of said spring received in said groove means; and an impact head of yieldable material provided with a recess extending thereinto having an interior peripheral shoulder, said recessed impact head being eifectively cooperable with said flange for resilient encompassing engagement thereover with said shoulder firmly engaging and retaining said flange.

6. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base cooperable to be fixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud having exterior thread means; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first helically coiled end cooperable with the stud and the thread means thereon to threadedly receive and engage said stud therein along the length thereof with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with a flange and provided with a projecting stud having exterior thread means; said spring being provided with an outer second helically coiled end cooperable with the stud and the thread means of the connecting element to threadedly receive and engage said stud therein along the length thereof; and an impact head of yieldable material provided with a recess extending thereinto having an interior peripheral shoulder, said recessed impact head being eifectively cooperable with said flange for resilient encompassing engagement thereover with said shoulder firmly engaging and retaining said flange.

7. An improved laterally resiliently displaceable stop for relatively movable elements, comprising: a base carrying flexible suction cup means cooperable to be removably atfixed to one of said relatively movable elements, said base being provided with a projecting stud; a longitudinal helically coiled spring having a first end cooperable with the stud of the base to receive said stud therein with said first end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud and with the major portion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axial impact by the other of said relatively movable elements; a connecting element provided with a projecting stud and provided with an impact head engaging extension; said spring being provided with an outer second end cooperable With the stud of the connecting element to receive said stud there in with said second end of said spring in exterior encompassing relationship with respect to said stud; and an impact head of yieldable material provided with a recess extending thereinto and efiectively cooperable with 7 said impact head engaging-H extension for resilientencompassing' engagement thereover;

8: An improved laterall-y resiliently"displaceablestop for relatively movable elements, comprisingr abase threadedly: carrying flexible" elastomericsuction cupmeans'cooperable-to'be removably' afi'ixed toone-ofsaid' relatively movable elements; said basebeingprovided with-a projecting stud having exterior thread-means; a longitudinal helically coiled springhavinga first'helicallycoiled end cooperable with-the stud and-the thread means thereon to threadedlyreceive and-engage said stud therein-alongthe length thereof'withthe-major-portion of thespring projecting outwardly from thebase for axialimpact by the other of'said-relativelymovable elements;

a connecting element provided with aflange andprovided with a projecting -stud havingexterior thread means;

8 said spring being provided with: an outer second helically coiled *endcooperable with the stud and the thread means of theconnecting element. to threadedly receive and engage said studtherein along the'length thereof; and'an impaet-headr of yieldable material. provided with a recess extending V thereinto 1 having 7 an interior peripheralshouL. der, said recessedzimpact hieadbeing effectively cooperable: withizsaidfiange {rm-resilientv encompassing engagement thereovers withsaidlshoulder firmly engaging and 1 retaining said i flange;

Refereneesicitedin the:file of this patent- STATES l PAT ENT S Chase July 3', 1917 Fisher Feb. 22', 1949 

